About Backstage

History

Started in December 1960 by Ira Eaker and Allen Zwerdling, Backstage quickly became required reading for every young actor who came to New York to cut their teeth. The newspaper's original blue-and-red logo became as synonymous with NYC actors as a class at The Actors Studio.

A Los Angeles edition, Backstage West, was launched in 1994, and Backstage.com came to life in 1997. In late 2008, the two regional newspapers were synthesized into a single national edition, now known simply as Backstage, which is sold across the United States and Canada.

Today, the Backstage brand signifies something greater than simply casting notices: Backstage is a place where actors, singers and dancers can connect with the greater performing arts community.

More importantly, Backstage is where performers can get all the information they need to succeed in the entertainment business. Actors browse through our magazine, checking updated production listings or reading our periodic spotlights on photography, college programs, acting schools and coaches. Or they check our many interactive online features, from news, reviews, and advice columns to a vibrant message board, weblogs, video, and much more.

Auditions

Backstage takes pride in having the most up-to-date technology, whether you are creating a multimedia resume or viewing casting notices. Upload your resume, post photos, upload a reel — all can be done with the touch of a button.

But none of that technology means anything without the job listings. And we have the best notices in the business.

Backstage publishes between 800 to 1,000 top audition notices each week for every type of performance: film, stage, TV, commercials, multimedia, dance, voiceovers, singing, and more. Included are opportunities for both adults and children. Plus, we offer ads seeking people in related fields, such as stage/film crews, models, musicians, and writers.

Besides performance hubs New York City and Los Angeles, we publish notices for dozens of other cities across the United States and Canada, including Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Vancouver and many more. Simply search by state or province and job type to see what's available in your area.

Protecting Actors

We offer every actor our unique Backstage Casting Pledge: We check out all casting notices before we publish them.

We never simply publish a casting notice as submitted. We ask questions, check references, and refuse to publish calls that seem less than reputable. No other publication takes the steps we do to protect actors.

For instance, we ask production companies whether roles are paid or not; if roles require nudity; whether they are seeking union or nonunion actors (and if it's union, under which contract); and so forth. We refuse to publish casting calls for pornography, or for projects that ask for exorbitant fees or for the actor to purchase headshots or classes to participate. (If a modest fee is requested, we'll include exactly what's expected in the casting notice.)

You should never go into an audition wondering if the person behind that door will try to take your money — or worse.

If you find that a casting notice or ad in Backstage is actually a scam or deliberately misleading, please let Backstage know ASAP. Backstage takes complaints very seriously.

We want to empower actors by supplying the most complete information possible about a project, so you know exactly what to expect at an audition before you attend. Then, if you are told something completely different, contact us immediately and we'll investigate.

Backstage works hard every day to be an actor's most trusted daily resource. Subscribe today!